Who is Claude Cahun? at Southwark Playhouse Borough

AnxiousTheatregoer
Jul 5
5 min read

A story of bravery and standing up for what is right and true to you, even in the hardest of times. The story of Claude Cahun, who lived in Jersey during Nazi occupation is presented to audiences through a surrealist play detailing his experiences both at the time the play occurs and prior experiences that led to his clear and brave opposition of the Nazi regime alongside his partner Marcel Moore. When the island was occupied by the Nazis in 1940, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore used guerrilla art to actively resist the occupying forces. Pursued by the Gestapo, their true story is a forgotten tale of courage and determination to be true to personal identity.

This play utilises the surrealism that shaped Claude Cahun alongside set and imagery to bring their story to life.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*

My Review:

Who is Claude Cahun? features 5 actors, 3 of whom play multiple roles throughout the performance. The cast is made up of Rivkah Bunker (Claude Cahun), Amelia Armande (Marcel Moore), Ben Bela Böhm (multiple roles), Sharon Drain (multiple roles), and Gethin Alderman (multiple roles).

The set design of this show was versatile, allowing a very simple set to become multiple locations and times through the use of multi-sided set pieces, lighting, imagery and curtains. The effectiveness of the set is due to the collaborative work of Juliette Demoultin (Designer), Jeffrey Choy (Moving Image and Projection Mapping), and Matthew Biss (Lighting Designer). I really enjoyed how Carla Joy Evans (Costume Designer) considered the versatility of the costuming is especially for performers portraying multiple characters, but also for the transition between Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore to Lucy and Suzanne Schwob when presenting themselves as sisters to anyone outside of themselves. Furthermore, Carla Joy Evans replicated and adapted some of the clothing seen in pictures of Claude Cahun so that they could be used as part of the play. I found this to be particularly effective and powerful when the actual image of Claude Cahun was projected alongside Rivkah Bunker wearing the same attire, as it reminded audiences that what they were witnessing was the lived experience of the person the play was about, alongside likely many others. The show is directed by David Furlong, who clearly considered how to incorporate the surrealism of Claude Cahun into the show and has done so very well. The direction of the show is informed and well-considered, and choosing to put characters into the aisle of the audience for certain scenes was a well-thought-out choice as it increases the immersion of the production, drawing the audience further in and adding to the power of the piece. Another piece of direction that added to this production was the inclusion of surrealist art throughout, especially through performance pieces. This was brilliantly added as surrealism was a major part of Claude Cahun’s life and a driving force for their opposition of Nazi control through the use of guerilla artwrok, therefore this being a constant throughout the piece allowed the audience to greater understand the reasoning behind the actions of Claude Cahun at every turning point in the play.

Rivkah Bunker leads as Claude Cahun and captivates the audience's attention whilst portraying the life and struggles of Claude Cahun. They are able to create an immersive experience for the audience without losing the plot, and the power with which they presented Claude Cahun’s emotions as they found themselves within the role of ‘The Soldier With No Name’ was beautiful to watch. Perfectly complementing them was Amelia Armande as Marcel Moore, who often acted as the more grounded of the two, but in the end, agrees to distribute guerrilla artwork alongside Claude Cahun as they realise the importance of standing for what is right, even if it is the hard and terrifying thing to do. I thoroughly enjoyed also seeing the development of the character of Marcel Moore throughout the performance as they stepped into their own self, past being Claude Cahun’s photographer. Amelia Armande showed great understanding of the role, and I was constantly drawn to their performance as they were able to delve into the subtleties of this role, making their portrayal all the more impactful. The understanding that both Rivkah Bunker and Amelia Armande had for their respective roles is, in my opinion, one of the main driving forces for how impactful this show felt, as the audience members are forced to truly empathise with these characters as they watch the events of their lives unfold. Ben Bela Böhm, Sharon Drain, and Gethin Alderman seamlessly transitioned between their respective roles without losing the individual characterisation of each. I found it paritular powerful to watch Ben Bela Böhm transition from playing a Nazi officer to a prisoner of war as this juxtaposition greatly highlighted the differing treatment of the people of Jersey under the Nazi regime based on their support or opposition. The prisoner of war also serves as a reminder to the audience of the truth of what happened and provides the push for Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore to increase their visual opposition of Nazi control. Similarly, Gethin Alderman transitions at the end of the play from a member of the Gestapo to a citizen of Jersey, happily waving a Union Jack flag; these transitions between specific roles, in my opinion, added to the power of the piece. Even more so, as the characters in both instances were polar opposites, making the transition more stark to the audience. Sharon Drain was a very strong performer as Claude Cahun’s mother, and her ability to command the audience as we see her descent until she is seemingly sectioned was brilliant. Her characters were able to stand alone whilst also complementing the other actors on stage, and in general, this was certainly an ensemble piece where each actor's ability to play off one another added to the overall delivery and performance of the play.

This show has a lot of potential, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

Content Warnings:

The theatre has warnings on display, which are as follows:

This performance contains:

Weapons on Stage
References to Anti-Semitism
Adult Themes
References to Self-Harm, Suicide, and Disordered Eating
Substance Misuse
Nazi Imagery

I personally did not make note of any additional moments that I felt to be triggering; however, this production is fairly immersive, so it’d be hard to leave the theatre from certain seats. The smallness of the auditorium also increases the power and impact of the show, especially during upsetting scenes.

Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)

- AnxiousTheatregoer